Lake District Trip
6th to 8th January 2012
After some doubt as to whether this was a Lake District or Yorkshire Dales trip we decided to go somewhere in between and see what happened,, whether it would rain anywhere, who wanted to do what… so we did.
We arrived around 23:30 to see Willem and co. driving in the opposite direction. Are you going to the pub? It soon turned out the place was quite hard to find in the dark, a short way down the road from where we saw them, opposite some sheep. As we discussed this rain was streaming down the road and the cars were practically floating downhill. Saturday was going to be good.
We have a new toy, Southend Canoe Club rice cooker (sponsored by Raydrive). We had Thai green curry in the bunkhouse at midnight and celebrated Russian Christmas. Nostrovia!
Saturday morning, Willem was concerned about lack of porridge. He mentioned it a couple of times. Mike and Becky arrived with a small person and suggested we paddle Trout Beck; a new river most of us had not done before. It was a very narrow, pretty river, with clear water you could see right through to the bottom, only 3km long so we should be able to do it quite quickly then paddle something else, or so we thought.
There was a tricky bit in a little gorge. Richard got stuck upside down and wriggled back the right way up before any harm was done. Everyone else decided to walk, except my Dad who decided his boat should do it without him. Having seen the solo effort I thought it looked ok so persuaded Richard that I wanted to do it the same as that only the right way up and with a person sitting in. This required a bit of concentration but seemed to work fine, easy, what was the fuss about? That persuaded a few more people to try. Dan got back on, got wiped out, reverse splatted against a rock and rolled up with half a paddle. Oh dear, get the splits and everyone else was now firmly of the conviction to walk around. Willem suggested the difficulties might be due to lack of porridge.
A bit further on there was a drop that went diagonally across the river. The instruction from Mike looking at it on the bank was to go in the middle pointing left. From above that looked strange. Only Lucie and Laura going last listened/believed Mike and made it look easy. Everyone else was too far right where it was a little awkward but mostly ok. If we had porridge we might have done a better job.
After that it was too late to paddle anything else so we went back to the bunkhouse for dinner, baby changing, bed time and a game of hide Lucie’s sleeping bag.
Question: what is the difference between Southend Canoe Club and a bunch of six year olds?
Answer: none, apparently.
On Sunday morning we presented Willem with a big bowl of porridge purchased from the Spa shop in Troutbeck Birdge the night before. You have to try to keep everyone happy. Still trying to be helpful, Becky washed the lunch meat in the washing up water. Mike took some baby photos; baby’s first canoe club trip, baby’s first bunkhouse, baby with Ray in the kitchen – some things never change – before heading off to paddle the Kent.
We paddled the Kent. I can’t remember the specifics. The first drop was easier than usual. The second drop, somewhat more difficult had a couple of swimmers. The rest was lovely. I wish I could think of something more to say about it but I can’t.
Lunch in the layby at the end of the Kent. Several people commented that it tasted rather soapy. Probably time to go home.
Report by Andrew Rawlinson